The courts of poetry

The ‘cúirteanna éigse’ or ‘courts of poetry’ have been seen as an important and distinctive feature of literary life in eighteenth-century Munster. Scholars have speculated that the cúirt éigse evolved from the bardic school, an institution which survived into the early 17th century in some districts. This hypothesis leaves many questions unanswered. Why, for example, were the cúirteanna éigse restricted to Munster? Why is there no apparent correlation between the districts where bardic schools formerly operated and those that were associated with courts of poetry in the 18th century? How is it that no cúirt éigse can be linked to any of the hereditary bardic families? Why did the poets of 18th-century Munster model their literary gatherings on courts of law? This lecture will present an alternative and more plausible explanation for the emergence of the courts of poetry.

*Please note that video and audio during this online event will be recorded. 

Host or Publisher National Library of Ireland